Hi, it's been quite a while since I've been here, so long that I had to re-register! I just bought a new car and am finding the "new car odor" is really bothering me. I didn't have any problem during my test drive (but I think I took a meclizine beforehand in anticipation of the salesman possibly driving the car). However, yesterday, after all the paperwork was done I left the lot and drove about 2 miles away to my job. Within a few minutes I felt extremely "carsick" and have had a lot of ear fullness and tinnitus along with an awful sick feeling headache ever since. My eyes are also bothering me. At first I thought it was because I was a bit tense on the ride (new car, busy highway, etc) but the feeling has persisted and doesn't seem to be getting any better. And I've been tense on car rides before and it has never affected me like this. I've googled new car odor and migraines, new car odor and feeling sick, new car odor and motion sickness, etc, but really can't find anything on this. There's stuff on new car odor toxicity but nothing there seems to fit what I am feeling. I'm wondering if anyone else here has had a problem with the new car odor and how you've dealt with it or if you have ever even heard of this. Maybe something else is wrong with me and it's just coincidence that it happened right as I was driving to my job. Briefly my background - several severe veritgo attacks 5-9 years ago. Was diagnosed with probable MAV (most likely not Meniere's but that is still a possibilty). I've always been extremely sensitive to motion, just about anything makes me "carsick." I'm also extremely sensitive to odors such as perfume, candles, air freshner. I've been vertigo free (knock on wood) for 5 years but the motion and perfume sensitivity problem persists . . . . though has never made me feel this bad, for this long. Also, I have celiac. I hate that I can't enjoy my car and that I dread going anywhere in it because of this. I'm at a loss as to what to do.
I have had asthma sensitivity to new car odor for many, many years. In more recent years, since I've had MM and MAV (I have both) those kinds of chemical sensitivity reactions definitely set off some of the new types of reactions I have, particularly dizziness, but also ear fullness and tinnitus in many cases. I avoid being in new cars, but if I must be in one I wear a carbon filter mask. That helps tremendously. I own this one: https://icanbreathe.com/products/icb-honeycomb-mask-with-classic-coconut-activated-carbon-filter. Since this might be a long haul, and you want to be comfortable in your new car, you might also consider getting a small portable air cleaner that has a car attachment. Here's a helpful list: http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/portable-air-purifiers.html. Given you have chemical sensitivity my guess is that you are going to find both these things helpful in other ways. It took a little over a year before I could ride comfortably in my parents' newest car. The previous one they got took several years, and I still have trouble with it ten years later, if it has been sitting in the hot sun for a long time. Chemical sensitivity is no fun, but once you get used to the kinds of things you need to look for, it gets easier.
I can't tolerate new car odor. Your clothes & hair will smell like the car odor which you carry on your body all day & that's almost as bad as being in the car. The only thing I've found that helped any is to cover the seats with a thick coverlets & wash them every few days until the new smell is absorbed. Of course, no one wants to cover their new seats. I've tried washing the interior with vinegar, baking soda, peroxide, borax & nothing helps. Air cleaners & ozone machine did not help at all. It takes about a year or longer for smell to leave.
I should have specified an air cleaner with a carbon filter to absorb odors/VOCs. In my experience those help. No one should be using ozone machines. They irritate lungs.
Hi and thank you for your responses! I'm thinking it may not be "New Car Odor Syndrome" afterall. The terrible car sick feeling I had is pretty much gone but the headache is very bad and my neck is also very, very achy and uncomfortable and I feel very fatigued. What I didn't mention in my initial post as I didn't think it was relavant was that the reason I bought a new car was because I was rear ended the week before and my old car was totaled. I was hit hard and my neck got a big jolt. I was quite surprised and very releived that I had no pain at all initially. It wasn't until a week later that things started to hurt. So now I'm wondering if I might have whiplash! Anyone here ever have whiplash? I'm praying it doesn't start a new round of vertigo for me.